Niall HamptonEditor

With new winners in every category, there was lots to celebrate at the 11th Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards ceremony in Manchester

There was a special Platinum Award, recognising consistent excellence since the awards started

The winners of the 2015 Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards were revealed earlier today at The Caravan & Motorhome Show at EventCity, Manchester, with new winners in every category. There were wins for Vantage Motorhomes (new ’vans), Escape by Swift Group (pre-owned ’vans), Heart of England Motorhomes (supplying dealer of new ’vans) and Meridian Motorhomes (supplying dealer of pre-owned ’vans).

Now in its 11th year, and supported by specialist insurer Coast, this is the only motorhome awards scheme that is based entirely on owners’ experiences and judgements. It is also the only one to feature pre-owned 'vans and their supplying dealers, as well as new motorhomes for sale. Over the past year we’ve been asking you to give us your feedback on both new and pre-owned motorcaravans that you’ve bought since 2010, and the service you received from your supplying dealer.

More than 1000 of you filled in the survey online or in the magazine; now our awards founder and coordinator ‘Gentleman’ Jack Bancroft has analysed your responses and the results are in, with Gold Awards going to manufacturers and dealers scoring a satisfaction rating of between 85% and 100%, and Silver Awards being given to those scoring 60-84%.

The overall winners for each category were given a trophy by Editor Niall Hampton on stage at the show. Topping the poll for new motorhomes was Leeds-based converter Vantage Motorhomes, scoring 88.5%. Other Gold Award winners included WildAx (88%), MURVI (84%), Adria (83.75%), Bürstner (83.5%), Dethleffs (83.25%) and Escape, from Swift Group (80%).

The award for best supplying dealer of new motorhomes went to Northamptonshire-based Heart of England Motorhomes, scoring 87%, a regular Gold Award winner since the awards started in 2004, and which just pipped last year’s winner, West Country Motorhomes, which scored 85.5%.

The Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards is the only survey to include pre-owned motorcaravans. First place went to Swift Group’s popular Escape range, polling a very respectable 93.5%, narrowly beating off competition from Italian importer Roller Team (93%). Devon-based converter MURVI was next, scoring 84%.

The highest-scoring supplying dealer of new ’vans was Meridian Motorhomes from Bosham, West Sussex, polling an almost-perfect 99%. Southern Motorhome Centre in Taplow was in second place (98%), ahead of Heart of England (96.5%) and Three Counties/Countrywide/VW Kamper Centre (96%).

A special Platinum Award, recognising consistent excellence since the awards started, was given to Heart of England Motorhomes. The dealership has scored more Gold Awards than any other since 2004.

The full list of Gold and Silver Award winners, along with an exhaustive analysis of manufacturers’ performances, will appear in the April 2015 edition of Practical Motorhome magazine, which goes on sale on 13 February.

The driving force behind the Owner Satisfaction Awards is the creation of better motorhomes for better-informed buyers, so keep an eye on practicalmotorhome.com over the coming weeks for the launch of the 2016 Owner Satisfaction Survey – and be sure to have your say! We really want you all to get involved.